Say what you will about the Ridge Racer games (and we've all heard the various complaints), it's hard to deny they're fun. They're almost an anachronism in a gaming world where innovation and style are generally viewed more important than enjoyment (even if the innovative game sucks it still gets critical praise for being different in most cases). And yet, Namco keeps churning out sequels and variations on the theme. Ridge Racer 6 is no different.

Xenosaga Episode II is chronologically the Jan Brady of its series: the bright, gangly and well-meaning middle child that must live up to its bigger sibling's legacy, which is rarely an easy task. Can this game hold its own when compared to its predecessor?

The Starfox name has traditionally meant decent (or better) shooter action, and Namco is a strong company whom I usually have great faith in. Although I actually did enjoy StarFox Adventures' foray into third-person action, I was quite glad when it was announced that Assault would be closer to the series' traditional space-borne roots. Unfortunately, (and somewhat contrary to Tera's take on it) the end result of this Nintendo-Namco joint project is a schizophrenic mess not worth the time or money.

Game Description: Star Fox Assault brings back the classic space-combat action with an all-new adventure! After saving the Dinosaur Planet in their last adventure, the Star Fox team is sent to face a new menace. But when a standard combat mission takes a strange turn, the team finds themselves fighting on land and on foot, for the first time ever. Help Star Fox survive this new adventure! Incredible graphics make you feel like you're really there, battling for an alien planet.

Star Fox: Assault's story is shoot-em-up simple: interstellar cockroaches called aparoids are taking over the universe, and the Star Fox team must take them out. Together with old friends Slippy, Falco and Peppy—and his sometime-girlfriend Krystal—Fox exterminates the aparoid menace, one planet at a time. It's not exactly Final Fantasy, but so what?

The typically soft and dreamy Namco presentation gives a good first impression, shaking off much of the stuffiness associated with modern racers. Unfortunately, entering the first race puts the trade-off into sharp perspective, since R: RE also lacks a great deal of the subtlety and sophistication of its peers.

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